The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced over $142 million in new grant and loan awards under its Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP). This brings the total funding awarded under this program to more than $754 million. These grants and loans, part of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, will support energy efficiency and climate resilience renovations in over 2,200 homes for low-income individuals, families, and seniors. Notably, this round includes the first GRRP awards for properties in Puerto Rico and Louisiana.
HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman highlighted the significance of these investments at the National Leased Housing Association Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. "The Biden-Harris Administration has placed a priority on improving housing and boosting energy and climate resilience. Today’s announcement provides funding to carry out both goals," said Todman. "These investments will reduce costs and improve the living conditions of the families who live in these homes."
Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner Julia Gordon added, "These awards represent not just our ongoing commitment to improving the health and safety of the homes for low-income families but also the power of partnerships that use federal funding made available through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act combined with private resources to combat climate change and promote energy efficiency."
All investments announced today align with President Biden's Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40 percent of certain federal investment benefits flow to disadvantaged communities. The retrofitting efforts are expected to reduce carbon emissions, enhance resilience against extreme weather events, and support affordable housing.
The grants and loans are part of GRRP's Comprehensive category, targeting properties with significant needs for climate resilience and utility efficiency upgrades. Of the 17 properties receiving Comprehensive awards today: 14 participate in HUD's Section 8 project-based rental assistance program for low-income individuals and families; three participate in HUD’s Section 202 project-based rental assistance program for low-income seniors; four have more than 200 units; five have between 51-200 units; eight have 50 or fewer units.
President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act established GRRP in 2022 as a major initiative to fund energy efficiency improvements across HUD-assisted rental portfolios.
As of June 25, 2024, GRRP has awarded funds to improve over 16,400 rental homes across various states including Puerto Rico. More than $754 million has been allocated through seven rounds of funding: $383.5 million in grants and $370.9 million in surplus cash loans.
The program supports insulation enhancements, energy-efficient windows/doors installation, heat-resistant roofs implementation among other measures aimed at reducing utility costs while promoting environmental sustainability.
Additionally, more than 800 properties have enrolled in HUD’s free energy/water benchmarking service funded by over $40 million from President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. This service helps property owners understand their consumption patterns relative to similar properties which can guide future upgrades funded under GRRP.
GRRP offers multiple funding options such as Elements (for proven climate resilience measures), Leading Edge (for ambitious zero-energy retrofits), and Comprehensive (for high-need properties).
